Sacramento daily record-union., 1887-08-06

rarely did anything 80 trivial as to speak, !
but when he did pearls of truth fell from |
his lips.
He may hunt. He ate every bit there
was in the house yesterday, and he owes
me a pound besides. I'm going to order
the blackboard. Is any one going bathing
from your house, Eric?"
Every one. They are going to take
Ned's and my things down to the beach
We're going to drive down with You if YOU
will be so altogether lovely as to let u"
Edith had vanished before this sentence
had reached its climax, and Erie resolved
to repeat it next day Edith often van
ished in the midst of his remarks, and he
was becoming accustomed to addressing
the empty space where she had been.
Buckboard's here" he called from the
fcot Of the stairs as the clock struck L.,
and a crunching of gravel and wild bark
ing from the dogs were heard. Edith ap-
peared with a heterogeneous mass Of scanty
garments and voluminous bathing towels
in her arms. Mr.. West emerged from the
library, and soon they were all rattling
along on the road TO the beach.
"Why don't you leave that beast at
home ?'' demanded Eric from the back
seat as Edith's great dog sprang into the
air in front of the horse with a series of
deep barks
Are you referring to Sir Galahad ?"
Even the back of Edith's head looked dig
nified as she asked the question. "He al
ways goes where go. Besides, he likes TO
bathe as much as you do"
"And needs it more" Eric had the
temerity TO observe. 81 should think he
had been carousing on ffteenth-century
fish from the way he smells"
q scorn to pursue the subject further
Papa, can't YOU make him stop"
(Which? Eric or Sir Galahad?"
";Sir Galahad. Be quiet, boyr' she or
dered, as the dogs barking became more
wild. "Oh will nothing make him stop?'
"Yes," said Ned, !" a bullet violently in
serted between his eyes, or bag of dyna-
mite tied to his tail"
"Ned thought yoa were friend of
mine" The reproach in Edith's voice
made Ned feel that his speeches, rare as
they were, were yet too frequent, and he
descended abjectly from the blackboard as
il drew up in front of the bath houses.
The Rockland beach stretched white
and smooth for half mile A cliff shell
tered it on one side-a long point of land
| on the other. Now the only sound to be
heard upon it was the booming of the surf,
breaking in long, level lines of FOAM The
day was perfect, 50 thought Eric Allen
| the first to come out from his bath-house-
as he walked slowly up and down the
warm, shining sand, and waiting for the
others before taking his plunge. The sea,
blue as liquid sky, flashed and sparkled
| ing shoreward, crested with white foam,
and turned to the seas own cool, delicious
green as they leaped and curved and broke
upon the beach. White sails flew by like
silent wings, and family across the mead
ows from the distant town came the
Ginning of church bells
It's good to be alive on a day like
this" said Eric, half aloud. "Those bells
make it seem like Sunday. Here they come
Heavens, what noise they make p They
certainly did, as seven bath-house doors
burst open, and Eric's four sisters, Mr.
West, Edith and Ned Whitney, each car
rying pail, came running over the sand
talking, laughing and screaming, only less
noisily then when they plunged into the
glorious waves.
The girls could all swim well-on their
sides, ON their backs, under the water
! anything the men could do the girls did
SO it was uncalled for in Eric Allen to
swim gently up where Edith lay dreamily
floating, grasp her, take her in tow in
spite of her resistance, and strike out for
shore, exclaiming, "Thank heaven, have
saved you" This proceeding was repeated
twice, until Edith stamped and sputtered
In her vexation. She actually left the
water before the other girls did, and
sternly refused to let Eric carry her pail.
She was sitting on 4 rock when the
Others came, clothed and i'll their right
minds, from their bath-houses. She had
been drying her red-gold hair in the sun
light, which made a glory of it. Eric
thought it lovely. "Pll soon be driven to
despair, golden hair" he sang softly, and
was rewarded with withering glance
Don't be more of goose than YOU can
help" advised Miss West.
Edith" interrupted Bess Allen, stand.
ing tall and graceful before her, ",rhen arc
you going driving with me in my cart?"
Why, ! don't know, dear; tomorrow
| if YOU want me to-"
Edith,' said Eric, "when am going
driving with you in your cart? You said
week ago you were going to take me and
you have not done it yet. What's more,
don't believe You ever intended to take
me"
Mr.. Allen, will you go driving with me
this afternoon ?"
Miss West, it will give me the greatest
pleasure"
81 will call for you at o'clock. We
will drive into town and stop at Lowler's
and you can get me that candy that yor
owe me-"
"Come, Edith. Goodbye, girls" called
Mr.. West, and whatever it was that Eric
had TO say was said to Ned Whitney and
the girls.
Tomorrow, then" shrieked Bess after
the retreating blackboard, and Edith waved
towel in reply.
Mrs. Aliens afternoon nap in the
veranda hammock was disturbed by Edith
fresh, young voice, saying: "Whoa
Countess" and as she drowsily opened hel
eyes she saw that damsel, dressed in white
looking as dainty as the bunch of sweet
peas in her belt, Just stepping from hel
cart, while the faultless Peter stood a
Countess head.
" How sweet you look, DEAR" said Mrs
Allen as Edith stopped to kiss the gentl,
face. Eric will be down in a minute"
" Eric is down now," came from the hall
and the owner of the name appeared ha
land cane in hand. "Don't keep us, mother
We're in hurry"
"Pm not, Mrs. Allen. I'd rather tall
to you than have to listen to Erie for tn;
Inext three hours"
"Fib," was Eric's laconic observation a.
he helped her into the cart.
Where are you going, children?
asked his mother.
We're going to have Eric's hair cut
Mrs. Allen. Goodbye. All right, Peter
and Edith gathered up the lines
Laughter, admiration and something
warmer still were in the dark ewes thai
were turned on Edith as Countess trotted
briskly out the gate.
By Jove. ii you don't beat any.
thing ! ever saw. won't have my hal,
cut"
"Oh, yes, you will, You may be good
but you're not pretty with your hair that
way"
| - But can't D;dp'. hr;,o 49,,